A stud relocation sees many buyer opportunities at herd reduction sale

Included in the recent Nutrien Livestock March store sale was Arkle Angus stud's herd reduction sale, which proved to be a success.

A top-quality yarding of Arkle Angus PTIC heifers and cows, and unjoined heifers rounded out the store sale, and buyers were able to get their hands on well-sought-after genetics.

Stud principal Siobhan Cowan said the sale came about due to the stud operation moving from Munglinup to its new home at Yelverton.

"As a result of the move we don't have as much room, so we have to reduce our number of registered females slightly," Ms Cowan said.

"Despite this reduction in breeder numbers, it won't impact the number of bulls we will breed in the future."

Offered first were 14 HBR registered PTIC heifers, a mix of AI mated and natural matings with AI sires including Cluden Newry Uppercut and KCF Bennet Culmination.

The natural mating sires include eight bulls from this year's bull sale line-up.

These heifers are due from May 15 to July 11.

Also up for grabs were 38 HBR registered stud PTIC cows ranging from second to fourth calvers, including more than 10 by Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15, due to calve from May 15 to August 14.

Rounding out the sale were 35 HBR registered weaner heifers, which are later born heifers from 2025.

Overall, as a result, 80 of the 87 females offered sold under the hammer to a high of $7000 and an average of $2825.

Nutrien Livestock, Manjimup representative, Brett Chatley, said the quality of the females on offer was very good.

"They sold very well," Mr Chatley said.

"There was strong competition and enquiry from all over the State which was very pleasing to see.

"There were a few passed in lots that also sold immediately after the sale which was great.

"Overall it was a good result.

"Well done to the vendors."

PTIC heifers

The PTIC heifers were the first to go under the hammer, with 11 of the 14 heifers offered selling to a $4577 average.

The heifers are all in calf to Angus bulls due from May 15 to July 11.

It was a PTIC heifer from lot seven which recorded the top price of $7000, when it was snapped up by Norsca Holdings Pty Ltd, Southampton.

Arkle V229 is a July 2024-drop Tehama Testament daughter out of Cherylton Q185, weighing 545 kilograms.

Norsca Holdings bought three PTIC heifers, paying an average of $6700, which included both the second and third top-priced heifers.

Making the second top price of $6600 was Arkle V309, a July 2024-drop Alpine Real Deal R163 and Arkle Blackcap S224 daughter, weighing 585kg, and Arkle V305, a late-July 2024-drop Connealy Craftsman and Cherylton Q35 daughter, weighing 560kg.

Also purchasing three heifers each were Hall & Co, Manjimup, paying $3500 for each, and CC Wheatley, Henley Brook, which paid a high of $4250 and an average of $3750.

PTIC cows

Next to be sold were the PTIC cows, which saw 34 of the 38 females sell to a $3566 average.

All PTIC cows are also due to calve from May 15 to August 14 and ranged in age from second to fourth calvers.

There were four cows which achieved the $5250 top price in this section of the sale.

First to make the $5250 sum was Arkle Precision S75.

Concept Earthworks, Greenfields, took a liking to the cow from lot 17, which is a May 2021-drop daughter of Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15 and Cherylton Precision M33, which weighed 775kg.

Concept Earthworks bought a pen of five PTIC cows for $3000 each, Arkle Francesca S57 (sired by Millah Murrah Milestone M308), Arkle Lowan S58 (sired by Millah Murrah Marlon Brando M304), Arkle Blackcap S203 (sired by Millah Murrah Nugget N266), Arkle Blackbird S240 (sired by S Powerpoint WS 5503, and Arkle Clara S267 (sired by Cherylton Investment P67).

These cows averaged 682kg.

Norsca Holdings continued its buying streak, paying the equal $5250 top price, three times.

The account bought a pen of three PTIC cows, Arkle Clara U85 (sired by Sitz Stellar 726D), Arkle Blackcap U95 (sired by Millah Murrah Nugget N266), and Arkle Lowan U149 (sired by Arkle Chisum S40), which weighed an average of 573kg.

Norsca Holdings also bought the lot 15 cow, Arkle Royal Lass S52, for $3750.

Royal Lass S52 is an early June 2021-drop S Powerpoint WS 5503 daughter, weighing 825kg.

CC Wheatley and Hall & Co also bought PTIC cows, with CC Wheatley securing two pens of three cows (six total), at $3000 each, while Hall & Co bought four cows, paying a high of $3500 and an average of $3125.

Unjoined heifers

A line-up of 35 unjoined weaner heifers offered in groups rounded out the sale, with 100 per cent of the offering selling under the hammer to an average of $1555.

Prices peaked at $1800, nine times, when a pen of nine 6-7mo heifers weighing 322kg were snapped up by Hall & Co.

A pen of eight heifers weighing an average of 283kg were bought by Black Market Angus, Boyanup and Donnybrook.

Purchasing the two remaining pens, both comprising nine heifers each was CC Wheatley.

The Lot 31 heifer made $1500 (weighing an average of 283kg), while the lot 32 heifers were bought for $1280 (weighing an average of 63kg).